Blog posts that inspire

A Birthday Treat~ Ginger Jar Cookies

/2 Comments/in , /by

 

Good Morning,

My birthday was yesterday. I still can’t believe that I am 39. Wow…. 40 next year. I am actually looking forward to turning 40. I don’t know why but I am. My birthday was actually very nice. I had lunch with some of my co-workers, my husband sent me a beautiful bouquet of roses, and order these gorgeous earrings for me. I can’t wait until they arrive!

I did want to share these gorgeous grandmilliennial inspired cookies that my husband ordered for me from Geneva Baking Company. I saw her ginger jar cookies on Instagram and had to order some!

 

 

I was so excited when the box arrived earlier this week! I loved the blue ribbons. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Aren’t they gorgeous? I shrieked like a little kid when I opened the box. They are huge cookies I will tell you that! But they are so gorgeous! I wanted a bit of every design.

 

 

I got pink and white and blue and white. I also wanted the toile, floral and leaf design. The owner sent me many emails just to make sure that my order was exactly what I wanted. She was so kind and sent me an extra cookie as a gift!

 

 

The cookies did not disappoint. I took some to the office to share with a few people and everyone loved them! Everyone kept saying how beautiful they were and they truly are! I hope to get some ordered next year. I would really love some Chanel-inspired cookies but we will see. 

 

 

 

The ingredients were very simple. No surprises, just unbleached flour, butter, eggs, baking powder, salt, almond, and vanilla extract. I love the taste of the almond extract. That was my favorite. Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. I appreciate all of your support through the years. Enjoy your Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

 

A Special Note….

/2 Comments/in /by

 

 

Hello Wednesday,

I am still doing my morning walks. I believe this is week four and I am still loving it. I did order some new exercise clothes and a cellphone armband case. I will share those items with you all when they arrive. I am really excited about them. 

I received something wonderful in the mail recently. I was debating with myself if I should even post this but it’s so wonderful that I wanted to share it with everyone. Most of you know that I love Jennifer L. Scott’s channel and her books. I became an “Elegant Connoisseur” last year and have been getting my blog and boutique advertised every month on her channel. I completely forgot about one of the perks of being an “elegant connoisseur” and that is receiving a handwritten letter from Jennifer for your birthday! Well, I received my letter this past weekend and wanted to share the lovely poem that she wrote for me!

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

She wrote, “Mrs. Shockley, sweet and true, always with her white and blue. Ginger jars and time for tea. Cashmere shawls and chinoiserie.” Isn’t that lovely? That put such a big smile on my face when I read it. I just love it! I will cherish this letter and poem forever. Thank you Jennifer if you are reading this. This was truly a treasure!

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

 

 

 

 

Reminders of Routine…

/3 Comments/in , /by

 

Good Morning!

It is Friday and I am a little excited. I am hoping to leave the office early today. I really want to head to Hobby Lobby and look at some of their autumn decor. I will share if I find anything. I also want to go to the antique store just for a quick second and have a peek. I am still on the hunt for some brown and white transferware plates for the autumn season. Our daughter’s last golf match is on Saturday. She will have 18 holes and I am praying for nice weather because it is going to be a long day. 

The boutique should be having a new arrival soon. A cream plus size cardigan is on the way. I am hoping that it will arrive next week. If you want updates on new arrivals and to see photos, follow the boutique here on Instagram. 

In today’s post, I wanted to share some past posts of my routines and daily living rituals. I have been blogging for so long it still shocks me how I am able to come up with blog posts every week. I sure hope that I can continue. I hope you enjoy the inspiration!

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

An Elegant Routine– I wrote this in 2016.

Mornings at the Office– from 2017

 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

The Dream of Consistency & Discipline – from 2018

 

Beautiful Morning Rituals– from 2019

 

One Chore at Time– from 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts on Eating….

/2 Comments/in , /by

 

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. This is our last week of golf for our daughter and I could not be happier. I know that sounds bad but it has really cut into her study time and she really needs that. Golf sectionals are this Saturday and we are looking forward to it ending. 

Our temperatures have skyrocketed again. Oh boy…. I miss my crisp morning walks already. A co-worker shared a new app with me. It’s called Map my Run and it’s by Under Armour.  It is the coolest fitness app ever (well to me it is)! I started using it this week and it keeps track of everything and the best part… it’s FREE! You guys should check it out. 

Speaking of fitness I recently read a list that inspired me in many ways and wanted to share it….. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

Of course, I am still reading Fiona’s book and it is full of “life tips”. On page 198 she gives a list of ideas on how to achieve being slimmer. And by slimmer, I mean whatever “slim” is for your body. Here are some of her tips….

  • Make it fun to be slimmer by finding inspiring role models- celebrities or people I know. 
  • Feel empowered instead of deprived when I skip foods that I know aren’t good for me.  (I tell myself this all the time)
  • Focus on nourishing my body with gorgeously real foods instead of thinking about the unhealthy foods I can’t have. 
  • Repeat affirmations to crowd out old, unhelpful ways of thinking.
  • Declutter my home, starting with my kitchen.
  • Declutter my wardrobe, keeping only what I feel amazing in. 
  • Line up great podcasts and audiobooks so I can’t wait to go for a walk each day. 
  • Visualize myself as slim and trim and know I am changing my size and shape to reflect that. 
  • Stock my pantry and fridge with healthy snacks such as raw almonds and other nuts, fresh fruit, and sparkling mineral water.
  • Commit to becoming healthier for good- my weight will follow. 

 

I hope you all found these tips helpful and inspiring. Staying healthy and losing weight is always a battle and it gets harder as you get older. I know for me I want to develop habits now so that when I am in my 40s and 50s I am not miserable with my health but happy, healthy, and beautiful. Enjoy your Wednesday!

 

Other blog posts on my website about eating:

The French Way of Eating

Healthy Eating is Elegant

 

 

Sleep Like A Chic Lady

/8 Comments/in , , /by

 

 

Good Morning,

Goodness is it really September 13th already? Things are going by too fast! I printed out my Christmas list recently. I am about to start my Christmas shopping soon. I really don’t like waiting until the last minute with Christmas shopping. It can be really stressful to me if I do. 

I finally got my autumn decor situated on my dining room table. Yesterday my brother, his girlfriend, and kids came by for a visit. It was a really nice time. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

 

I put a few autumn-inspired treats out for us to enjoy! Now on to today’s post. I recently purchased another nightgown and I love this one as well. I did share my nightgown collection in 2019. I still have some of those pieces. The new nightgown that I purchased is called Eileen West and it is from Von Maur.  I just loved the giant floral peonies on it. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley 

 

I adore the vintage feel and look of the gown. I am still reading Fiona’s book and she has a section called, “sleep like a chic lady”. She said, “When I burn the candle at both ends, it shows on my face and I feel it in my body. Sleep is the ultimate beauty elixir and it is free”. 

Sleep is so important to all of us and I know for me wearing something beautiful to bed that I love makes my night routine all the better. 

 

 

Enjoying my boudoir time is something that I take seriously. I get my hair ready for bed, wash and moisturize my face, brush my teeth, put my gown on, put lavender cream on my heels, place my cozy socks on my feet and hop into bed. Sometimes I make work on my planner, read a little, watch some vintage Martha Stewart shows and burn my lilac blossom candle from Yankee Candle. 

Fellow blogger and Instagram friend Kristen from Ballgown with a Coffee Stain blog had a wonderful idea recently. She shared a beautiful photo of her in her new “nightgown”. Only it was not a nightgown but a lovely and comfy dress from H&M.

 

photo credit: Kristen Ballgown with a Coffee stain 

 

Now, how great is that? I would have never thought of that. This is the dress that she is wearing and it comes in different colors. I found some other ones here, here, and here. All of them are reasonably priced and quite lovely. 

I think I may have to consider this idea. What do you think? I hope you all enjoyed this post and found it inspiring. Now check your closet to see if you have a comfy dress worthy of using as your nightgown. Have a great Monday!

 

 

 

 

Please note: some links are affiliate links and if you make a purchase through this link, I will receive a small commission for referring you to the product. Thank you so much in advance if you decide to make a purchase through my link.

Chic Snacking

/8 Comments/in , /by

 

 

Good Morning,

It’s Friday and I am so ready to sleep in on Saturday. For me sleeping in is sleeping until 9 a.m. That is the longest I can stay in bed. I am an early riser so staying in bed past 10 a.m. is hard for me. This weekend I have to take some shoes in for repair, I need to pay a visit to Costco and I need my car washed. I really would like to visit the antique store so we will see if I can fit that in.

Well on to today’s post. I am still reading through Fiona’s book Thirty Chic Days and at lunch this week I read a section about snacking. Now I have really slowed down my snacking the last 2 years but there are some days out of the month where I need something to satiate my hunger. 

 

photo credit: Mrs. Shockley

 

These are my favorite items to snack on. I love blueberries, my Oui yogurt, and almonds. Now the almonds have been a recent purchase. I was inspired by Dominque’s video to get these almonds for my office drawer and I must say that they are so good and I am enjoying them! 

Other snacking items are fresh fruit and I love peanut butter and bananas. I will take a banana, slice it up, and spread peanut butter over each slice. It is like heaven to me. 

There was one section in this chapter that caught my eye and it was called, “Give up kid food”. Fiona said, “We are adults, so there is no reason to eat children’s treat food. I’ve told myself it’s time to grow up. Since it is only my husband and I, there is no need to have any juvenile food in the house at all. By the same token, you do not want to eat at fast food places painted bright colors- you will not find it to be a chic dining experience.” 

I repeat this to my husband all the time. He still eats like a 12-year-old but then I realized that was him. I don’t have to eat this way and so I don’t. I enjoy my “rabbit food” as he would call it. But it fills me up and it tastes wonderful. 

What are your favorite “chic snacks”? I would love to know what healthy snacks you all love. Please share in the comments section below. Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Please note: some links are affiliate links and if you make a purchase through this link, I will receive a small commission for referring you to the product. Thank you so much in advance if you decide to make a purchase through my link.

 

What’s Your Secret Garden?

/4 Comments/in , , /by

 

 

Good Morning Everyone,

It has been a nice long weekend and really needed. I slept in on Saturday and Sunday. Today I got up and walked my 2 miles around the neighborhood. It was beautiful and cool. During that time I talk to God a lot. I express my worries, concerns and I try to remember to give praise reports during that time as well. 

Last week while I was cleaning my loft/office I started staring at my bookshelf. My eyes landed on Fiona Ferris’s book Thirty Chic Days. I wrote about this book several times here on the blog. I decided to take it to work to read it while on my lunch break. My eyes landed on the chapter called, “Create and Guard your Secret Garden”. 

 

My sitting room at home

 

Fiona said, “Your secret garden is where you dream of how beautiful and successful your life will be. It holds safe all those plans and thoughts that you might think others will make fun of or scoff at and tell you to “get real” about, but you know better; dreaming of an enchanting future makes you feel happy and inspired”.

I know I have this “secret garden”. My morning walks have become a secret garden. It’s when I talk to God and express my feelings. I am so free during my morning walks. No one is around and it’s quiet. It’s a great time for me to talk with the Father in heaven. 

My lunch breaks have become a secret garden. I take that time to read other blogs, read books, journal, shop, send emails and gain inspiration for the blog. This is also a time when I enjoy my beautiful lunch. I set a place on my desk and enjoy eating. 

 

photo via Victoria Magazine 

 

Other places for me that I have designated as my secret garden are my front porch, my sitting room, the blog, the boutique, honestly anywhere I am I try to create this. Fiona also said that spending time with a great book could be your secret garden. Other tips that she gave in her book were “mindful secret gardens”. She said that setting an intention is a great way to be mindful. She gave the example of “ahead of time you decide that you won’t be snacking from all the bowls of sweets and nibbles around, that you will sip your drink elegantly, and that you will have only one serving at the dinner buffet. You’ve also decided that you won’t be drawn into any arguments or family drama, as well as speaking positively and not gossiping.”

I am sure many of us have done this before. Set a mindful intention of not overeating and gossiping. I know I have. 

 

photo credit: Aerin Launder Instagram

 

There are so many benefits to having a “secret garden”. It’s a world that you create and a space that you enjoy. I love my secret gardens! I am sure that many of you have them. What are your secret gardens? Are any of you willing to share? Put it in the comments section below. Let’s share our beautiful pleasures with one another. Have a great Monday!